Staff Picks: Backing the Giants

Erickson and I both went 3-1 last week to lead the playoff standings at 6-2. (It's hard to shake someone when he makes the exact same picks as you). This week, everyone likes the Pats except me, and all of us are on the Giants, even 49ers fan DDD.

Enjoy the games.

Erickson

Pianowski

Liss

Stopa

Del Don

Ravens +7.5 at Patriots

Patriots

Patriots

Ravens

Patriots

Patriots

Giants +2.5 at 49ers

Giants

Giants

Giants

Giants

Giants

Best Bet

Patriots

Patriots

Ravens

Patriots

Giants

Last Week's Record

3-1

1-3

3-1

2-2

3-1

Playoff Record

6-2

4-4

6-2

4-4

5-3

Playoff Best Bet Record

2-0

1-1

1-1

1-1

1-1

2011 Record

121-128-7

134-115-7

124-125-7

123-126-7

127-122-7

Best Bet Record

7-9-1

8-8-1

10-7

10-7

7-9-1

Consensus Pick Record

30-24-2

2010 Playoff Record

6-5

5-6

5-6

7-4

8-3

2009 Playoff Record

5-6

4-7

1-10

6-5

5-6

2008 Playoff Record

6-5

5-6

5-6

8-3

4-7

2007 Playoff Record

8-3

3-8

6-5

N/A

2-9

2006 Playoff Record

7-4

N/A

4-7

N/A

N/A

2005 Playoff Record

5-6

N/A

3-8

N/A

N/A

2004 Playoff Record

6-5

N/A

4-7

N/A

N/A

2003 Playoff Record

6-5

N/A

4-7

N/A

N/A

2002 Playoff Record

6-5

7-4

5-6

N/A

N/A

2001 Playoff Record

6-4-1

7-3-1

4-6-1

N/A

N/A

2000 Playoff Record

6-5

7-4

6-5

N/A

N/A

2010 Record

129-122-5

134-117-5

126-125-5

136-115-5

134-117-5

2009 Record

123-130-3

132-121-3

131-122-3

130-123-3

126-127-3

2008 Record

132-114-10

128-118-10

124-122-10

125-121-10

130-116-10

2007 Record

127-120

118-129

127-120

N/A

130-117

2006 Record

118-129

N/A

139-108

N/A

N/A

2005 Record

121-126

N/A

127-120

N/A

N/A

2004 Record

124-124

N/A

130-118

N/A

N/A

2003 Record

121-126

118-129

124-123

N/A

N/A

2002 Record

113-136

123-126

141-108

N/A

N/A

2001 Record

124-113

117-120

118-119

N/A

N/A

2000 Record

123-117

134-106

141-99

N/A

N/A

Consensus Picks

This week we have one consensus pick: the Giants. We went 1-1 last week on consensus picks, to put us at 2-2 for the playoffs. We were 30-24-1 during the regular season. We went 32-21-1 on consensus picks in 2010.

Comments:

Writer

Comment

Erickson

I just don't believe in the Ravens, and especially Joe Flacco, on the road. They played like champs in Week 17 against the Bengals, but the previous road game, against the Chargers, is the one that sticks out in my mind. Maybe it was a letdown, or maybe it was a matchup of personnel? If it's the latter, and I think it is, they are in trouble... I've gone back and forth on the Niners and Giants, but I'm persuaded that the Giants defense isn't the same unit as early in the season, and that's the controlling factor.

Pianowski

The Baltimore win at New England in Jan. 2010 means little today. The Patriots didn't have Wes Welker (knee) that day, and Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez were still in college. Julian Edelman caught two touchdown passes in that game; today, he's a defensive back. I'll be very surprised if New England loses to the Ravens.

Liss

The Ravens-Pats line is an overreaction to last week's results. The Ravens have been as good as the Pats all year and have not been more than seven point dogs at any time in the Harbaugh/Flacco era. Moreover, teams that score 38-plus in a playoff game have covered the next week only four times in 24 games since 1994 (Hat Tip: RJ Bell). In other words, people overreact to big offensive showings, particularly in the playoffs.

Stopa

The Ravens leave me cold, especially on the road, where they were 4-4 and got shredded in December by Philip Rivers. Heck, they would have lost last week if they weren't facing rookie T.J. Yates. And what's with the Ray Rice disappearing act? If he's not the best player on the field when he's in the game, the Ravens have no chance whatsoever. Meanwhile, the Patriots defense has quietly started to come together, in no small part because Patrick Chung and Jerod Mayo are healthy. The Ravens defense, meanwhile, is overrated - Ed Reed and Ray Lewis have both lost a step. Pats 34-17... Everyone remembers the pass from Steve Young to Terrell Owens to beat the Packers in the playoffs several years ago, but does anyone remember that SF lost the following week? That's what Vernon Davis' catch feels like to me. That was the peak for SF, whereas the Giants are more balanced on both sides of the ball. Sure, Alex Smith looked good against NO, but can he do anything resembling that against NY? I think not. My only trepidation is if the Giants waste too many plays running the ball; we've seen enough of the SF defense, including against these Giants earlier in the year, to know that won't work. Giants 24-20.

Del Don

I obviously hope I'm wrong about the Giants, but I have a strong New York feel this week, so I'm going with head over heart.